Apparatus for treating films



"V. 0. DE YBARRONDO. APPARATUS FOR mmmn mus.

' APPLICATION mu) NOV. 4. 19:6. I

Patented Oct. 14,1919.

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V. C. DE YBARRONDO.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. l9l6.

Patented Oct. 14

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VINCENT C. mt YBABBONDO, 0! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT O. on YBAR- RONDO, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of l os Angeles and State of Californla, have 1nvented a new and useful Apparatus for Treating Films, ofwhich the following is a specification.

-My -'nvention relates to the motion picture art, and particularly to the art of developing, fixing, washing and drying negative and positive films.

.The principal object of m provide apparatus by whic films, whether perforated or unperforated, can be developed, fixed, washed and dried with a m1n1- mum of expense and within a minimum of time, and without losses due to faulty workmanship, and with superior results over the present crude methods which lose about five hundred feet to every one thousand feet of film treated.

A further object of my invention is'to provide means whereby difi'erent portlons of the same film may be simultaneously treated in difier'ent manners to suit the condition of each portion.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby positive films maybe developed, fixed, washed and dried, .various rtions of the positive being treated in a lfi'erent manner to suit difi'erent conditions in the film, the apparatus being arranged so that anumber of positive films can be developed in succession more or less automatically, each portion of the fihn -being properly treated to get the best results.

'A further object of my invention is to provide a film developing apparatus which will handle great lengths of film in a very small space, and which can be adapted to treat at onetime any length of film.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter, and will be evident to one skilled in the motion picture art after inspection of the accompanying drawing, and reading the following specification. In the drawings, which are for illustrative purposesonly:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the complete apparatus. I

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same apparatus with the last tank and reel omitted.

Figs. 3, 4; and 5 are enlarged sections showing alternate methods of guiding the film through the apparatus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

invention is to T Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed November 4, 1916. Serial No. 129,625.

Fig. (3 is an enlarged view through the deeloping case and various apparatus connected thereto.

Fig. "7 is an enlarged view howing a roller suspended at the bottom of the film loop.

Fig. 8 is a section on a plane represented y the line w w of Fig. 7 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate method of viewing the film during development.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a developing case 11, formed of a box 12 and a cover 13, is provided, the box and, cover being joined on an inclined plane as shown in Fig. 2. A series of partit1ons 14: divide the box into developing chambers 15 and observing chambers 16, the film 17 passing through the box longitudinally and passing between soft ruibber members 18 in the partitions 14 which tend to make a liquid-tight joint about the film, and between the box 12 and the cover 13 So that the chambers 15 and 16 are each liquid tight. A film box 20 and a film reel 21 are provided, the box 20 being at the end that the film enters the case, and the reel 21 being at the end that the finished film leaves the .case 11. Secured in the bottom of the case 11 are a plurality of developing pipes 22, upper valves 23 being provided in these plpes close to the case 11. These valves 23, as" well as the other valves to be hereinafter described, may be gate valves of any convenient form, those shown. being what are known as quick actin valves in the trade and bein so formed t at they leave a clear opening t rough the pipe 22' when open, but completely shut it off when closed. Each. of the pipes 22 may be of. any convenient -length, and as many of the pipe-s 22 may be provided as is necessary to handle "an desired length of film or films. The develop- Jing case 11 is located in a dark room such as is regularly used by photographers.

The film 17 enters the case 11 from the box 20, passing through the ends which are provided with the soft rubber members 18, and passing over a sprocket 25 is looped under a roller 26 carried on pins 27 sup ported on standards 28 of a weight 29. The Weight 29 has openings 30 therethrough so that liquid can circulate freely therearound and is provided with a small projection 3l, this projection engaging a groove 32 in the pipe 22, the groove 32 and the projection 31 being provided for the purpose of prevent-- ing the weight 29 from turning, thereby twisting the film. Any other equivalent mechanical methods may be adopted for this purpose.

The filmis looped over one of the sprockets 25, under the roller 26, and over another sprocket 25, then passing through one of the partitions 14 from the developing chamber 15 into the observing chamber 16. The chambers 15 and 16 are normally connected together by a pipe 35 having a valve 36 therein, this pipe connecting orifices 37 and 38 located in the chambers 15 and 16 respectively, so that these chambers may both be filled with any solution desired, or so that the chamber 16 can be shut off from the chamber 15' by means of the valve 36. A pet cock 39 is connected to a pipe 40 which enters the chamber 16 through an orifice 4], this pet cock 39 being used to drain the chamber 16 when desired. Compressed air may be allowed to enter the chamber 16 through a pipe 42 from any convenient means not shown to prevent leakage and partial mixture of liquids in the chambers.

A lamp house 45 is placed beneath each of the chambers 16, any suitable luminous source being placed therein. Condenser lenses are located in a tube 46 inside of the box at the top of the house 45 just below the film 17, and a sight box 47, is located above the film outside of the box, projection lenses being placed in the tube 48 thereof, these lenses being arranged to focus the film on a ground glass member 49 in the sight box member 47 above. A rack 50 and pinion 51 are arranged to focus the lens in the tube 48, so that a clear image of the film may be projected on the ground glass member 49.

An upper manifold 55 extends co'mpletely across the back of the apparatus, this pipe being composed ofalternate crosses and Ts 56 separated by valves 57. Suction pipes 58 are each connected through a valve 59 with the top of each of the crosses 56, each of the pipes 58 being connected into the suction side of a pump 60, each of the pumps 60 discharging through a pipe 61 into one of the developer tanks 62. The lower'end of each of the crosses and Ts 56 is connected through a valve 66 with a pipe 67, each of these pipes 67 extending into the lower part of one of the chambers 15 for the purpose of draining liquid therefrom. Each of the developer tanks 62 is connected through a valve 70 with a supply pipe 71, these supply pipes 71 extending down and being connected through valves 74 WithTs 75. The upper limbs of each of the Ts 75 are connected through a valve 76 with a lower manifold 100. This manifold is composed of alternate crosses 101 and valves 102. The upper end of each cross 101 is connected through a valve 103 with the lower end of one of the pipes 22. The lower branches of the Ts 75 are connected through valves 77 with pipes 78 which extend to the bottom of the auxiliary tanks 79, these tanks 79 being provided with a vent 80 to the open air.

Each of the crosses 101 is connected through a valve 82 with a hypo supply pipe 83, these pipes 83 being connected to a hypo manifold 84 which connects througha pipe 85, and a valve 86 with a hypo tank 87. The hypo tank 87 is provided with an inlet pipe 88, and a pump 89 which is connected through a pipe 90 and a valve 91 with one end of the manifold 55. The opposlte end of the manifold 55 may be connected through a valve 94 with a sewer outlet pipe 95. Connected into each of the crosses 101 at the opposite side from the pipe 83 1s a pipe 110 which is connected through a valve 111 with a T 112, this T being fed with dry air through a pipe 113, or with clean water through a pipe 114. One end of the manifold 100 is closed by a plug 116, the other end being connected through a valve 117 with a T 118 which is connected through a valve 119 with a general dump tank 120 and through a valve 121 with a sewer pipe 122. The tank-120 has an air vent 123.

In Fig. 6 sprockets 25 are shown over which the film passes, these sprockets being carried on shafts 125 supported on bearings 126, these sprockets having teeth arranged to fit into the small holesin the extreme edge of the film. If. desired, fixed guides 116 or pivoted guides 127 may be substituted for the sprockets, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that either perforated or unperforated film may be run over them.

In Fig. 5 is shown a roller 128 having a hook 129 which extends over the edge of the film for the purpose of guiding it. I

The method of operation of the invention is as follows: v

As many of the pipes 22 are utilized as may be necessary to accommodate the whole length of film, any pipe being readily cut out of operation by closing a valve 23. The previously printed film from the box 20 is drawn through the case 11 with the cover 13 raised, the room in which the case 11 is placed beingsuitably darkened. The film 17 is threaded over the sprockets 25 or over the. equivalent means shown in Figs. 3, 4

and 5, the end of the film being finally secured on the reel 21. The film 17 is threaded under the roller 26 and each of the weights 29 is allowed to drop into its respective pipe 22.

The object of the successive chambers 15 and pipes 22 is to provide for the different scenes, each scene being developed in one or more chambers, and each scene being separated from the next scene at one of the partitions, 14. The film is so placed that ving conditions, and considerably different amounts of developer may be necessary for bringing the film up to a uniform trans parency, due to this difference in density of the different scenes. 7 With the film in place in the case 12, th

cover 13 is closed thereon, and suitably secured in Water tight relation with the box 12. Developer from the tanks 62 is allowed to flow through the valves 70, the p1pes'71, the valves 72, into the T 75. The valves 74, 76- and 103 being open, and the valves 77, 82 and 111 being closed, the developer rises rapidly in the'pipe 22 into the box 15 and into the pipes 67. By opening the valves 59 and 66 and starting the pump 60, the developer can be circulated in the pipe 22 if desired. Ordinarily, however, this is not necessary, In some cases a single strength of developer will take care of the whole film,

and all of the tanks 62 may be filled with a developer of the same strength,-the developer being allowed to flow indiscriminately through all the chambers, equalizing through the upper manifold 55. Ordinarily the upper manifold 55 is broken up into sections by closing certain of the valves 57, and the lower manifold is separated into similar sections by closing certain of the valves 102 so that a number of chambers 15 andpipes 22 are served by a single pump 60 and fed with developer from a single tank 62. This is done so that difi'erent strengths of developer may be applied to different portions of the film. The object of using different strengths of developer is to bring'all portions of the film to the same density at ap-. proximately the same time.

For the purpose of determining when the film is properly developed, the sight boxes 17 are provided. The sight boxes can be used for obserying, when the time and temperature method is employed. Under normal conditions the valve 36 is opened, and the developer flows freely through the pipes 35 from the chamber 15 to the chamber 16.

When it is desired to inspect the film, the. valve 36 is closed, the -pet-cock 39 is opened,

and compressed air is supplied to the cham ber 16, thus driving out any solution in the chamber 16 through the pet-c0ck 39. When the pet-cock 39 is closed it prevents liquids from other chambers-entering chamber 16,

as the air pressure will overbalance the weight or pressure of liquid in the" other chambers. An image of the film is then thrown from the luminous source in the box 45 on the ground glass 19, and'the degree of developme t can. be instan ly o served. The

sight boxes 4:7 are very useful during the first development of the film. It should be understood that a large number of positives are ordinarily produced from one negative,

and the method of procedure is to determine what strengthof developer is necessary for each section of the positive, mixing the solution to the proper strength to suit each portion of the film andplacing the proper strength of solution in each of the tanks 62, so that-the development of the remaining positives is simply a mechanical matter. When the film is sufiiciently developed the charge of developer is run into'one of the tanks 79, or into the tank 120, by a suitable manipulation of the valves, these tanks being provided so that a very rapid discharge of the developer may take place. The valves 7 6 are then closed, the valve 111 remaining closed, and the valves 82 are opened, thus allowing the fixing solution previously placed in the tank 87 to flow through the valve 86 and the pipe 85 into the hypo manifold 84, this fixing solution rising rapidly in the pipes 22. The valves.

59 are closed, and the valves 57 being all opened the valve91 is opened, and the fixing solution circulates, if desired, by means of the-pump 89 throughthe various pipes 22. If desired this fixing solution may be run off in the tank 120 after a suitable interval, or it may be entirely returned to the tank 87. As soon as the film is properly fixed 'thevalves' 103 and 82 are closed, and the valve 111 is opened,clean water being 'supplied through the pipes 114, and being dis charged to the sewer through the pipe 95, the valves 94 and 57 being open and the valves 91 and 59 being closed. After sufficient water has been passed through the pipes 22. to thoroughly wash the film therein hot dry air is supplied through the pipe 113, this air flowing through the pipes 22 and being fed into the sewer through the pipes 95. The flow ofhot dry air is continued un- ,til the film is entirely dried, the developed and dry film then being wound on the reel 21, the cover 13 being raised during this operation as the weights come to the top of tubes they should be removed. If it is desired at any time to discharge any of the solution from the manifold 100 into the sewer it may be done through the pipe 122 by opening the valve 121. The solution discharged into the tank 120, or the tanks 79 is ordinarily pumped back into the tank 62, or.

into the tank 87, during the time that a new film isbeing placed in the apparatus, the valves being suitably manipulated to provide for this purpose.

By the use of my invention I am able to accomplish several new and useful results. In the first place, I am able tocirculate a solution through the pipes 22, these solutions servmg to develop, fix or wash the film, and

I am able to dry the film without rehandling in the same pipes. Second, by threading the film into a large number oi} these pipes, I am able to handle films of any length in a comparatively small space. Third, by providing the partitions 14 I am ableto treat different portions of the film with different strengths ofsolution, so that the time of developing each section of the film is constant. By this means I am able to develop a long film having scenes of varying density at one time without special attention to any portion of the film. Fourth, by the use of the chambers 16 and the parts 47 and 48, I am able to observe the progress of the development at any time. Fifth, I am able to develop, fix, wash and dry a film without handling. Sixth, no portion of the film is wasted.

In the form ofmy apparatus shown in Fig. 9, I provide, a treating tank 200 in which a film'201 is placed, this film being run over rollers 202 provided with a weight 203. A plate or other form of film than that illustrated and previously described may be substituted if desired. The end of the film 201 is attached to a chain 204 which passes upwardly through a sight box 205. This sight -box consists of a light tight center portion 206 having an aperture which is illuminated by a lamp 207-. An eye piece 208 is provided through which the operator may view the film when it is pulled up into the sight box by means of the chain 204. A shutter 209 normally closes the aperture between the central portion 206 and the eye piece 208..

. By means of the chain 204 and the other parts above described, it is possible 311; any time for the operator to pull the end of the film up out of the liquid in which it is being developed for the purpose of observation. At such times the light through the eye piece 208 is first shut off by the face of the observer, the shutter 209 then being lifted to allow the operator to see the film.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus fortreating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of saidpipes, and means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box.

2. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, partitions dividmg said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, means in each of said observing compartments by-which the condition of the film may be observed, and

meansfor passing various solutions through sa1d pipes and said box.

3. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, a lantern house for each observing compartment each so placed as to throw abeam of light through the film in said compartment, matter forming an observation surface, means for projecting the image of the film on said surface, and means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box.

4. In an apparatus for treating film, a de- 5; In an apparatus for treating film, a dc veloping box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, means in said box between said pipes for supporting the film, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, means in each of said compartments by which the condition of the film may be observed, and means for passing various" solutions through said pipes and said box.

. '6. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending-downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, means in said box between said pipes for supporting the film, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, a lantern house for each observing compartment each so placed as to throw a parallel beam of light through the film in said compartment, matter forming an observation surface, means for projecting the image of the film on said surface, and means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box.

7. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of aaiaoae pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, means for passing variou solutions through said pipes and said box, auxiliary tanks into which the contents of said} pipes can be drained, storage tanks from which said pipes can be filled, and liquid moving means for drawing liquid from said auxiliary tanks into sald storage tanks.

8. 'In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, means in each of said compartments by which the condition of the film may be observed, means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box, auxiliary tanks into which thecontents of said pipes can be drained, storage tanks from which said pipes can be filled,

.. and liquid moving means for drawing liqtight closure with said box,

uid from said auxiliary tanks into said storage tanks.

9. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, partitions-dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, a lantern house for each'observing compartment each so placed as to throw a parallelbeam of light through the film 1n said compartment, matter forming an observation surface,- means for projecting the imageof the film on said surface, means for passing variou solutions through said pipes and said box,

auxiliary'tanks into which the contents of said pipes can be drained, storage tanks from which said pipes can be filled, and liquid moving means for drawing liquid from said auxiliary tanks into said storage tanks.

10. In an apparatus .for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping :Iesaid film down into eachpf said pipes, means in said box between said pipes for supporting the film, means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box, auxiliary tanks into which the contents of said pipes can be drained, storage tanks from which said pipes can be filled, and liquid moving means for drawing liquid from said auxiliary tanks into said storage tanks.

11. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a. tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film in said box, means for looping said film 'down into each of said pipes, means in said box between said pipes for supporting the film, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, meansin each of said compartments by which the condition of the film may be observed, means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box, auxiliary tan s into which the contents of said pipes can be drained, storage tanks from wh ch said pipes can be filled, and liquid moving means for drawing liquid from' aid auxiliary tanks into said storage tanks.

12. In an apparatus for treating film, a developing box, a cover adapted to make a tight closure with said box, a plurality of pipes extending downwardly from the bottom of said box, means for guiding a film 9 0 in said box, means for looping said film down into each of said pipes, means in said box between said pipes for supporting the film, partitions dividing said box into a plurality of developing and observing compartments, a lantern house foreach observing compartment each so placed as to throw a parallel beam of light through-the film in said compartment, matter forming an observation surface, means for projecting the image of the film on said surface, means for passing various solutions through said pipes and said box,'auxiliary tanks into whichthe contents of said pipes can be drained, stor age tanks from which said-pipes can be filled,

and liquid moving means for drawing liquid from said auxiliary tanks into said storage tanks.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myhand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of April, 1916.

VINCENT C. on YBARRONDO. 

